Water Quality Laboratory Assistant

Responsibilities

This technical position is located at the City of Rochester's potable water testing laboratory in Hemlock, NY. Employees in this class perform basic and routine water sample collection and laboratory work, including water quality testing and laboratory maintenance. The employee will be required to collect samples throughout the watershed and water distribution system, traveling by car or boat and sometimes on foot. Employees in this title perform their work under the general supervision of the laboratory manager.

Typical Work Activities

• Collects drinking water samples from the distribution system (City of Rochester) for coliform testing.
• Assists technicians in performing chemical, microbiological, and physical tests on drinking water at the treated and pre-treatment stages;
• Assists in the investigation of water quality complaints from customers, identifying causes of problems such as rusty ,dirty, or foul-smelling tap water through procedures such as water sampling, laboratory testing, and interviewing of customers and the Water Bureau's Distribution and Field Engineering personnel;
• Assists in the preparation of microbiological media and chemical reagents;
• Assists in performing limnological studies of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes, under direction of senior staff;
• Assists in monitoring water quality of watershed tributaries through regular testing and direct observations in the field;
• Cleans laboratory glassware and performs general laboratory maintenance;
• Assists in the maintenance of a quality control program to assure reliability of laboratory data, including frequent calibration of laboratory instruments and standard curves used in chemical and physical examinations;
• Complies with laboratory testing standards and procedures to ensure the integrity and reliability of laboratory data and keeps quality control documentation up-to-date.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Microbiology;

OR

Associate's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Microbiology;

AND

One (1) year of experience as a laboratory chemist, biologist, or technician performing water quality or environmental testing, which would include chemical or microbiological tests.

OR

Three (3) years of experience as a laboratory chemist, biologist, or technician performing water quality or environmental testing, which would include chemical or microbiological tests.